1. Persuasive Paragraphs
Traffic Lights

2. Persuasion
Persuade: To convince someone of something. Because we are focusing on writing persuasive paragraphs, the goal of our paragraph is going to be to persuade (or convince) someone of something.

3. The Importance of Having a Well-Structured Paragraph
“Organization is what you do before you do something, so when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.”
-A.A. Milne
a.k.a. Winnie the Pooh

4. What Do Traffic Lights Have to Do with Paragraphs?
Green Light (Topic Sentence & Closing Sentence): Let’s go! State your topic.
Yellow Light (Reason, Detail, or Fact): Slow down. Support your topic with good reasons, well-described details, or interesting facts.
Red Light (Example or Explanation): Stop! Give a supporting example or a relevant explanation to support your yellow light.

5. Organization Is Everything!
Strong Persuasive Paragraph Pattern:
Green: Bold topic sentence.
Yellow: Reason, detail, or fact supporting green.
Red: Example or explanation of yellow.
Green: End by restating your topic!

6. When Writing a Topic Sentence
“Don’t be kind of bold.
Be bold.”
-William Zinsser

7. Bold in Green
Remember, your topic sentence should be a bold statement. Your topic sentence is what you are trying to persuade people to believe.

8. Example of a Topic Sentence
Topic: The Scottish Referendum
What bold statements could I make about the Scottish Referendum?
Examples:
Scotland should break away from the United Kingdom.
Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom.

9. Topic Sentence Choose a bold statement that you would like to prove.
My choice: Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom.
This is a bold statement. It is my topic sentence.

10. Reason, Detail, or Fact
A strong paragraph has three RDF’s supporting its topic sentence.
Topic sentence: Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom.
Three RDF’s:
Although Scotland has resources, there is no proof that these resources will be enough to support the country financially.
If Scotland becomes independent, major banks will move into other parts of the UK to protect their own welfare, which would harm Scotland’s economy.
Finally, if Scotland becomes an independent country, it would need its own army, and that would be difficult to create.

11. Supporting RDF’s with the two E’s
RDF’s need to be supported by an explanation or an example to make it stronger.
1st RDF:
Although Scotland has resources, there is no proof that these resources will be enough to support the country financially.
How can I support this statement? What example or explanation is there to prove this statement?

12. Supporting RDF’s with the two E’s
1st RDF:
Although Scotland has resources, there is no proof that these resources will be enough to support the country financially.
Supporting Example/Explanation:
In fact, Scotland’s oil fields—a major part of its economy—have already been decreasing in production and it is estimated that the oil supply will be depleted in 40 years.

13. Supporting RDF’s with the two E’s
2nd RDF:
If Scotland becomes independent, major banks will move into other parts of the UK to protect their own welfare, which would harm Scotland’s economy.
Supporting Example/Explanation:
Major banks would move out of Scotland because they would not know how valuable Scotland’s new currency would be, and the banks could potentially lose a lot of money.

14. Supporting RDF’s with the two E’s
3rd RDF:
Finally, if Scotland becomes an independent country, it would need its own army, and that would be difficult to create.
Supporting Example/Explanation:
In order to create an army, you need a lot of resources, a lot of money, and a lot of people to recruit.

15. Bring It Home in the Closing Sentence
We need to end our paragraph by reminding our readers of the topic sentence. This means saying your topic again in different words.
Topic Sentence: Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom.
Closing Sentence: The UK is an organization of countries that provides security and stability to its members and Scotland would be wise to remain in the United Kingdom.

16. Make an Outline Using an Accordion Fold
Topic Sentence: Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom.
RDF: Although Scotland has resources, there is no proof that these resources will be enough to support the country financially.
E: In fact, Scotland’s oil fields—a major part of its economy—have already been decreasing in production and it is estimated that the oil supply will be depleted in 40 years.
RDF: If Scotland becomes independent, major banks will move into other parts of the UK to protect their own welfare, which would harm Scotland’s economy.
E: Major banks would move out of Scotland because they would not know how valuable Scotland’s new currency would be, and the banks could potentially lose a lot of money.
RDF: Finally, if Scotland becomes an independent country, it would need its own army, and that would be difficult to create.
E: In order to create an army, you need a lot of resources, a lot of money, and a lot of people to recruit.
Closing Sentence: The UK is an organization of countries that provides security and stability to its members and Scotland would be wise to remain in the United Kingdom.

17. I Vote No
Scotland should not break away from the United Kingdom. Although Scotland has resources, there is no proof that these resources will be enough to support the country financially. In fact, Scotland’s oil fields—a major part of its economy—have already been decreasing in production and it is estimated that the oil supply will be depleted in 40 years. If Scotland becomes independent, major banks will move into other parts of the UK to protect their own welfare, which would harm Scotland’s economy. Major banks would move out of Scotland because they would not know how valuable Scotland’s new currency would be, and the banks could potentially lose a lot of money. Finally, if Scotland becomes an independent country, it would need its own army, and that would be difficult to create. In order to create an army, you need a lot of resources, a lot of money, and a lot of people to recruit. The UK is an organization of countries that provides security and stability to its members and Scotland would be wise to remain in the United Kingdom.

18. Let’s Try This Together!
Topic 1: Would it be fun to be a young celebrity?

19. Your Turn
In teams, write a persuasive paragraph. Choose a topic from the topic list. 